The positive power of nature and working in partnership has been harnessed to great effect at the popular Edenvilla Park in Portadown.
Visitors to the Walled Garden and the Secret Garden at Edenvilla are regularly treated to magnificent floral displays and perfectly maintained green areas, thanks to the efforts of The Arc team.
Organised by the Southern Health Trust, The Arc is a service which provides opportunities for adults with learning disabilities living within the Southern Trust Area, offering a range of activities.
And thanks to the partnership with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, which is responsible for Edenvilla Park, the members of the team are flourishing in their outdoor haven.
From planting flowers, tidying up the endless supply of leaves in autumn to looking after the exotic birds in the green house, the adults are continuing to develop new skills by taking part in The Arc project which has its headquarters in Bessbrook with various satellite activities throughout the Southern Trust area including Edenvilla.
Malcolm who is a member of The Arc team said: “I do lots of horticulture and conservation projects, so it’s really, really, good. It’s nice to have a variety and choice of activities, so that you can pick and choose what you want to do.
“It’s something I really enjoy and meeting up with other people, working together on the gardens or clearing up, whatever needs to be done.”
Alderman Margaret Tinsley, who is Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough said it was a “fantastic initiative which highlights the benefits of partnership”.
“As a council we are delighted to be able to provide such a great resource like Edenvilla for The Arc project and it is a real privilege to see just how positive an impact it has on those taking part,” said the Lord Mayor.
“Their work and horticultural skills are greatly appreciated and they are helping to create and maintain a very important public space asset in our Borough.”
Roisin O’Hare, who is the Interim Assistant Director for Disability services at the Southern Health Trust said: “Spending time in nature and taking part in outdoor activities with other people has multiple benefits for health, mental health and social interaction.
“We are committed to providing services which encourage purposeful activity and promote independence for all services users and we have a dedicated Daytime Opportunities team working with clients across the Southern Trust.”
The project encourages the adults to participate in recreational, therapeutic, training and educational activities to develop routine and structure within their everyday lives. It also aims to promote social inclusion, empowerment and equal citizenship for adults with learning disabilities within their community tackling isolation and loneliness whilst aiming to improve service users overall health and well-being whilst learning new skills and meeting new people.
Caoimhe who is a volunteer with The Arc, said the participants were able to retain and utilise their new horticultural skills.
“The team are doing the winter bedding (flowers) at the minute and the skills that they learned last year, they can transfer those skills for this year as well,” she said.
“They are constantly learning new skills and they are learning about horticulture, the eco-systems and the environment around us, which is all very beneficial for them.”
